Fixture for attaching clips in moldings



Aug. 25, 1942. R. L. BROWN FIXTURE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS IN MOLDINGS FiledJune 21, 1940 INVENTOR Piaiefi J. ,Brawzz. W 7%, ATTOR 5- Patented Aug.25, 1942 FIXTURE FOR ATTACHING CLIPS IN MOLDIN GS Robert L. Brown,Detroit, Mich., assignor to' William R. Wiley, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. 341,737

1 Claim.

The present invention rel-ates to a method and means for assemblingclips in ornamental molding strips and particularly to a method andmeans for assembling, with molding strips, clips of the type disclosed.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a mechanism for anda method of assembling clips with molding strips which are characterizedby their simplicity and the ease and rapidity with which the assemblyoperation can be efiected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification, the accompanying drawing, and the appendedclaim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fixture or mechanism for assemblingmolding clips in moldings, parts being broken away and partsin section;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1, showing the means foroperating the movable dies;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in a differentposition;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view clip;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a molding strip;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary assembly view, showing the completed assembly ofornamental molding strip, clip and panel;

of the molding Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 ofv Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.

The present invention relates to an assembly of the type of ornamentalmolding strip shown best in Figure 6 and indicated generally as II],with a plurality of retaining clips shown in a perspective view inFigure 5 and indicated generally l2. The clips l2 are intended to securethe molding Ill against the surface of a panel II, as shown in Figures7, 8 and 9.

The molding strip, which may be formed of any desired material such as aplastic composition or extruded metal, is of general channel formprovided with inturned flanges l4 and I5, as best shown in Figures 1 and7. The panel II is provided with a series of spaced, rectangular holesl6, each adapted to receive a portion of one of the molding clips, ashereinafter described.

As best shown in Figures 5, '7, 8, and 9, the molding clip, which ispreferably formed of spring steel, comprises a sheet metal element bentinto a general M formation. The completed clip has a central portion l8which is of greater transverse Width than the remainder of the clip, andwhich is adapted to fit within the molding channel and bridg across thegap between the inturned flanges l4 and I5 thereof, as best shown inFigures 7 and 9. Projecting from opposite sides of the central portion[8 are identical generally U-shaped'portions of less transverse widththan the central portion I 8. Each of these U-shaped portions is formedof an inner leg 20 and an outer leg formed of a. pair ofangularlyrelated portions 22 and 23, the portion 22 being intermediate the innerleg 20 andthe portion 23 of the outer leg. The outer leg portion 23 isprovided with a foot 24 adapted to engage the bottom of the moldingchannel, as best shown in Fig. 8.

The normal formation of the clip is such that when inserted within themolding in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8, the feet 24 on the outerleg portions 23 press downwardly against the bottom of the moldingchannel, thereby forcing the central portion l8 resiliently against theinner surface of the inturned flanges l4 and I5. It will be noted that,as best shown in Figures 5 and 8, the central portion l8 has its sideedges l9 bent in the direction of the inner legs 20 in orderto provide asharp edge which will tend to dig into the inner surfaces of theinturned flanges l4 and I5. This tends to prevent longitudinal movementof the molding strip relative to the clip.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of clips 12 areassembled with a molding strip H) by means of the fixture illustrated inFigures 1 to 4. As there shown, there is provided a plurality of alignedstationary dies 30 having double-stepped recesses 3| and 32,respectively, at one end. The stationary dies are mounted between sideplates 33 and 34 to which the stationary dies are secured by anysuitable means, such as rivets 35. The plates 33 and 34 are likewisesecured together at their bottom portions by rivets 36 witha spacermember 31 between the plates, and at their ends by rivets 38 with an endspacer member 39. Positioned opposite the recesses 32 in the stationarydies 30 are a plurality of movable die members 40 having correspondingrecesses 4|. The recesses 32 and ll and the side plates 33 and 34 definepockets or receptacles, each adapted to receive a molding clip l2. Theupper edges of the recesses 32 and 4| are provided, respectively, withoverhanging edges 32a and 41a adapted to retain the clips againstremoval from the recesses when the dies are closed upon the clip. All ofthe dies 40 are formed integrally with a bar 42, which is slidablebetween the plates 33 and 34 and beneath the stationary dies 30.

The bar 42 rests upon a spacer or filler plate 43, which is secured tothe side plates by means of rivets .44. At .the left'zhand end of thefixture is provided a helicalspring 45, which acts normally to force thebar 42 to the right and to therefore open the dies. At the righthand endof the fixture, there is provided alever 46 fixed with respect to ashaft 41 that is journalled'for rotation in the side plates 33 and 34.The central portion of the shaft 41 is squaredand carries a cam 48adapted to act against a cam face 49 on the end of the bar 42. 'When thelever 46 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, the cam 48swings downwardly, forcing the bar 42 to the left and closing themovable dies .40, aga.inst thestationary dies 30 against the action ofspring 45. This die. closing operation ispreferably performed by apowermeans, such asthe fiuid piston lJ-mountedin a cylinder 5| and connected.by.a.rod 52 .to the lower end of the lever 46. i The left-hand endofthecylinder 5| isconnectedby a valve.53 to asource of pressure .54..when.theivalve isein-the Position Shown in Figure '1..This-.actuatesthe.fixture to close themovable dies 4llupon thestationary dies 30. When the valve'..53. is reversed, :by a clockwiserotation, fromnthesposition" shown in Figure 1, the left-hand end of.cylinder 5! -is connected to anexhaust .outlet 55, .and a spring 56 inthe right-hand end. .of cylinder '5l reverses the positionof. the piston.50.

Theabove .describ'ed. fixture is usedin the following manner: With thedies-3l1-and 40 in the-openpositionillustrated in Figure 4, apluralityof .clips l2 are positionedwithinthe die recesses. Asbestshownin Figure 4,- the space between the lower surface .oithe centralportion I8 of clipjlZ- and theupper. plane of thesurfaces of .the ,feet'24 -.of the. clip .'I 2 ,-.is. normally greaterthan the distance'between-Jthe. inner surfaces of the. inturnedLfianees 114. and 1.5 andthe bottom of the molding strip .channel. .Accordingly,.it is notnormally possible .to insert the clips in the molding strip channel.llowevenwith the clipsloaded in .each of lthe'jdie recessesof thefixture in'the manner ,indicated'in Figure 4, if the shaft 4'|.and cam4B are ,rotatedby' the means illustratedin order'to force the bar 42 andthe movable dies 40. to the left .against the stationary dies30,-theouter. legs of 'the clips 12 will be engaged'bythe sides of .therecesses 32 and 4t and compressed inwardly, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.This'has'the effect ofv raising thelevel .of the centralportion withrespect ,tothe level of the:

feet 24 until, as. best shown .in'Figure 3, the'central portion [8 andthe feet. 24 are in-approximately the same ,plane. 'Whenthe clip is.distorted in this, fashion, it .is a simple matter to slide the moldingstrip, l0 endwise over the series of clips held in 'the'dies 'of .thefixture in the manner illustrated in. dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3and in solid lines in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the stationarydies 30 project upwardly above the top edges of the side plates 33 and34 and thus serve to guide the molding strips I!) along the top of thefixture. When the molding strip reaches the desired position along thefixture relative to the clips [2, the valve 53 is reversed, thusshifting the cam 48 to the position shown in Figure 4 and permitting thespring 45 to open the dies. This die opening movement permits thecentral portion of each of the clips 12 to move downwardly into tightengagement with 'theinner surfaces of the inturned flanges 14 and "II 5,as best shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9, in which position the clipstrongly grips the molding channel. Accordingly, the molding strip withthe attached clips may be simply lifted from the fixture and is readyfor installation on a suitably perforated panel, such as the panel I lillustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9.

The panel ll is provided with openings l6 adapted to receive theU-shaped portions of the clip, and these openings are formed in properposition to receive each of the clips on a given molding. In order tosecure the molding to the panel, it is only necessary to hold themolding in a position in which the clips are aligned with the openings15 and then simply force the clips through those openings. The portions22 of the outer legs of the clip force the outer legs inwardly andpermit the clip to move through the opening into the positionillustrated in Figure 8, in which'the U-shaped portions of the clip havesnapped or expanded outwardly and the portions 23 of the outer legs haveresiliently gripped the end walls 26 of the opening H5.

The assembling fixture and-method of assembly described hereinareexceedingly simple, and can be conducted very rapidly by a'singleunskilled operator. It is apparent that certain variations in themechanism and in the procedure outlined are available within the spiritof the invention as'outlined herein and within the scope of the appendedclaim.

What is claimed is:

V In mechanism foruse in'applying clips to a molding strip of channelshape with inturned flanges, said clips having attaching portions ofgreater width than the space between said inturned flanges, thecombination of, an aligned series .of stationary dies, a pluralityof'movable dieseach of which is adapted to move toward or away from oneof the stationary dies, each pair of dies comprising one stationary andone movable die defining a clip receiving recess for hold ing a clip inalignment with the clips received in the recesses of the remaining pairsof dies with the attaching portions of the clips projecting upwardly inposition to receive a molding strip, means for simultaneously movingsaid movable dies toward said stationary dies for the purposeofdistorting said clips, and means to engagea molding strip and guide itin endwise movement into a position to receive the attaching portions ofall the clips between the molding strip flanges.

. ROBERT L. BROWN.

